Cougars take control of EPC 2-A race

FARMVILLE -- Of all the big-play touchdowns made in the Goldsboro-Farmville Central game, it was a blocked extra-point attempt that made the difference.

The block caused the Jaguars to go for a two-point conversion twice in the fourth quarter. Each time they failed and the Cougars escaped with a 27-25 win in Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference play.

Goldsboro (6-3 overall) exited the lone unbeaten team in the EPC at 3-0.

As in their previous win over Greene Central, the Cougars dominated the ground game. Goldsboro's two-headed horse of Anthony Council and Hykeem Coley combined for 286 yards and four touchdowns.

"We had to stay with our game plan and that's our running attack," said Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid. "Our line did a great job."

The Cougars survived a wild finish that saw 18 points scored in the final three minutes of action. The key to victory for the Cougars though, began in the third quarter.

Following an unexpectedly quiet first half, Goldsboro trailed 7-6 before Council and Coley got their engines going. The pair combined for 52 yards in a 63-yard, 12-play drive to open the second half.

The drive culminated when Council found the end zone on a fourth-and-2 play from the Jaguar 7-yard line. Coley's two-point conversion was good, giving Goldsboro a 14-7 advantage.

The Goldsboro defense forced Farmville Central to turn the ball over on downs, giving the Cougars great field position at the Jaguar 46-yard line.

Council, Coley and Iveon Sprangle all helped march Goldsboro straight down the field. Council scored on a 2-yard run and Dustin Uzzardo's extra point was good to put the Cougars ahead 21-7.

The Jaguars answered right back when quarterback Richard Williams hooked up with Tonio White for a 47-yard touchdown. Sergio Grossi's ensuing extra point was blocked by a host of Cougars led by Donald Pollack.

"Donald stepped up big on the blocked extra point and a couple of stops on Williams," said Reid. "He's been in this program for four years so he's been in the valleys, but tonight he had a chance to be on the mountain top."

In the fourth quarter, the craziness began.

With 2:43 to play, Williams found Devon Atkinson for a 36-yard touchdown to make the score 21-19. Williams' two-point pass attempt failed when he was hit as he threw by Council.

Goldsboro tried to run out the clock on its next possession, but faced a critical fourth-down play on its own 41-yard line. Gambling his running backs and offensive line could get the two yards it needed, Reid went for it.

The gamble paid off as Coley rumbled 59 yards for a touchdown. On the play the senior also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, joining Council as the second Goldsboro back to accomplish the feat this season.

"We accomplished something that we haven't done in a long time, and that's having two 1,000-yard backs," said Reid. "That shows how good our offensive line has been."

With just 52 seconds to play and trailing by eight, Williams again gave the Jaguars a chance. He connected with White for 52 yards and Atkinson for an 18-yard touchdown with just seven seconds to play.

Needing a two-point conversion to tie, the Jaguars handed the ball to running back Immanuel Cox who was taken down well short of the goal line by Pollack and Carlos Atkinson.

"The two-point conversions really hurt us," said Farmville Central head coach Dixon Sauls. "It came down to making a play. They made a play and we didn't."

The first-place Cougars entertain North Lenoir next Friday at Cougar Stadium.

"Tonight, my guys wanted it more and they showed it in the second half," said Reid. "We're going to soak this in tonight and tomorrow before worrying about our next game on Monday because it's not over yet. We have still a lot to accomplish, but tonight was a big stepping stone for us."